APPEAL PLAYS
QUESTION: In high school, baseball and softball, runner from first base misses second and advances to third base. Defense does not appeal during live ball but requests “time” which is granted by umpire. Defense now decides to appeal during dead ball. Can any defensive player appeal? Can coach appeal? Is dead ball appeal only permitted by an infielder?
ANSWER: During a dead ball process, any defensive player, with or without the ball, or the head coach can verbally appeal a base running violation. Verbal appeal requires defense to state which runner and which base was violated. There is no need for ball to be thrown nor base / runner to be tagged. (BB- Rule 8, Sec. 2, Art. 6; SB- Rule 2, Sec. 1, Art. 3 a & b).
QUESTION: Runner is on third; one out; batter singles and runner advances but misses home plate. Catcher calls for ball, steps on plate and appeals missed plate then throws to second to throw out batter-runner attempting to advance to second. Is all this action allowed during live ball?
ANSWER: This is a legal live ball appeal and play; hence, runner is out at home and batter-runner is out at second. (BB- Rule 8-2-6, b; SB- Rule 2, Sec. 1, Art. 3, a).
